Delay v. Delay, 42219

Decision Date20 January 1981
Docket NumberNo. 42219,42219
PartiesBarbara J. DELAY, Respondent, v. James J. DELAY, Appellant.
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals

Joseph Howlett, Shaw, Howlett & Schwartz, Clayton, for appellant.

Gail Gaus, Clayton, for respondent.

REINHARD, Judge.

Husband appeals from portions of a dissolution decree entered on July 31, 1979.

He claims the court abused its discretion in awarding the wife child support in the amount of $22.50 per week per child for four unemancipated children. Further, husband complains that the court erred in making the visitation award. We have reviewed the evidence on these matters and have determined that the orders are supported by the evidence and the law.

Husband's other point requires further discussion. He contends that the trial court erred in determining that his retirement plan was marital property and awarding one-half of it to his wife.

In the dissolution decree, the court found the retirement plan of the husband with the City of St. Louis to be marital property. It awarded one-half of the amount of the retirement plan to the wife.

Where a spouse has contributed to a retirement plan during the marriage and the interest of the spouse is either contingent or subject to divestment, the plan is not marital property. In re Marriage of Faulkner, 582 S.W.2d 292, 296 (Mo.App.1979). 1 Likewise, retirement benefits that become vested only upon retirement have been held too "speculative" to be marital property. Id.

Here, the only evidence as to the retirement plan came from the testimony of the husband on cross-examination. The husband's testimony was very sketchy and uncertain. We find insufficient evidence in the record to support a finding that the plan is marital property and therefore reverse and remand that portion of the decree which relates to the retirement plan.

On remand, the parties should be given an opportunity to produce more evidence concerning the nature of the retirement plan and the husband's rights thereunder. The court can then, based upon that evidence, make a new determination as to whether it is a marital asset and order such relief as the evidence and law requires. Since all the property was divided basically one-half each, the distribution of the rest of the marital property should not be affected by a subsequent determination as to...

To continue reading

Request your trial
6 cases
  • LaRue v. LaRue
    • United States
    • West Virginia Supreme Court
    • May 25, 1983
    ...See also, Annot., 94 A.L.R.3d 176 (1979). 9 For instance: Witcig v. Witcig, 206 Neb. 307, 292 N.W.2d 788 (1980); Delay v. Delay, 612 S.W.2d 391 (Mo.App.1981); Mueller v. Mueller, 166 N.J.Super. 557, 400 A.2d 136 10 Our position regarding alimony as a charge on a decedent's estate is outline......
  • Monsanto Co. v. Ford
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Missouri
    • August 10, 1981
    ...be valued as marital assets and therefore are not marital property. Murphy v. Murphy, 613 S.W.2d 450 (E.D.Mo. App.1981); Delay v. Delay, 612 S.W.2d 391 (E.D.Mo.App.1981); In re Marriage of Faulkner, 582 S.W.2d 292 (E.D.Mo.App. 1979); Daffin v. Daffin, 567 S.W.2d 672 (Mo.App.1978); Robbins v......
  • Murphy v. Murphy, s. 41552
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • February 24, 1981
    ...be considered as marital property requiring disposition. In re Marriage of Faulkner, 582 S.W.2d 292 (Mo.App.1979). See Delay v. Delay, 612 S.W.2d 391 (Mo.App.E.D. 1981). The five year limitation placed by the trial court on the maintenance for the wife is another matter. The record is extre......
  • Marriage of Edwards, In re, s. 17626
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • September 16, 1992
    ...to divide" in his Stage II pension rights is without merit. The two cases cited by Hugh in support of that theory, Delay v. Delay, 612 S.W.2d 391 (Mo.App.1981), and In re Marriage of Faulkner, 582 S.W.2d 292 (Mo.App.1979), antedate Kuchta. Since Kuchta, it is settled that a spouse's interes......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT